When I was a kid, it was a family tradition to pile into the car and drive around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. Tracie and I continue to observe this tradition. There are some pretty good displays near our house, particularly in the somewhat ritzy golf-course neighborhood next to ours.
One display this year, though, was so odd that we had to go back in the daylight to photograph it:
As I said to Tracie, “is that Santa and Joseph?” I’m not particularly familiar with the Bible, but I’m pretty sure that Santa isn’t mentioned anywhere. But who else could it be, given the time of year? And if it is Joseph, where are Mary and child? Maybe that explains his downcast countenance. You can almost hear his dejected voice: “Santa, I’m really afraid that Mary took the baby and split. Things just haven’t been the same since those three guys came by, and this whole baby thing totally caught me by surprise anyway. I mean, last time we talked about it, she was a vir– well never mind that. Sorry Santa, there’s no reason to bring you down with my troubles. I mean, I know you’re busy this time of year and everything…”
It might also be worth mentioning that the candy-cane-like thing in front of them is illuminated red at night. Maybe it’s supposed to be a question mark–a self-referential, enigmatic Christmas lawn display of Santa and Joseph perched on an inverted milk crate. ‘Tis the season.
